Author's Note

Well Enough Alone...

Intermission II - Suffer With Me (TBR)

ONE MONTH AFTER THE RAINBOW ROCKS EVENT

"Well... that was an odd way to spend Christmas Eve." Sunset tilted her head, "What do you mean? How was that odd?" Noah ignited the engine, "Kid, who goes to an arcade to spend Christmas Eve." Sunset sighed, "Again with this, it was just to have a little fun!" Noah waved her off, "It's not your fault, just can't believe that's what we did."

Noah and Sunset had become great friends a month and such after the Battle of the Bands. Despite everything, however, they both weren't sure if the other wanted to be anything more than that.

They'd decided to spend the day before Christmas at a twenty-four-hour arcade and were just now leaving before midnight. As Noah pulled out of the arcade's driveway and began down the road, he sparked a conversation.

"Kid, why have you been so nice to me as of recently? I wasn't sure when to ask but, you act like you saw me nearly kill myself." Sunset began to sweat, "I uh... w-well... remember back in November when you made that delicious dinner for us?"

"Yeah, but we both made that dinner." Sunset shrugged, "Yeah, but the only one who knew what they were doing was you. I was just following your directions."

"Okay, I guess that makes sense. I mean, a nigga has gotta know how to cook after all." Sunset sighed of relief and stared out the window. The truth was that she wanted to keep Noah's spirits up after finding his noose.

Sure, she cut it up and whatnot, but he still had a much faster option if he wanted to. Not only that, but knowing him, who knows what he's capable of if he really wanted to. Especially with those new powers of his.

Thinking of his powers, Sunset spoke up, "Hey Noah, how exactly did you put your magic... uh... back?" Noah inhaled, "After a couple of minutes, I just put the two pieces of my necklace together and the magic was sucked back in. Inch by inch. Well, centimeter by centimeter really since they just hang right next to each other... heh, I know two other things that hang right next to each other."

Sunset scoffed, "Seriously? How old are you, twelve?" Noah snickered, "Oh, go fuck yourself shawty, I saved the goddamn world. I can say whatever the fuck I want nigga."

"Speaking of which, who's God?" Sunset asked, and Noah froze. "You say his name a lot and include him in some of your curses. So, I was just wondering."

"You seriously don't know who God is? Do you even have a god-like figure?" Sunset shrugged, "Well, define god-like."

"An all-seeing and all-knowing being. Omnipresent and omnipotent. Immortal and Celestial." Sunset scratched her head, "Well, I don't know about all that other stuff that much, but we do look to Princess Celestia like that a lot."

"You give praise that is deserving to God... to a princess... did I hear that right?" Sunset shrugged, "W-Well, what's so special about this 'God' guy anyway?"

"He created the universe and everything in it. That includes you, me, and that dumbass Flash guy in school." Sunset rolled her eyes, "I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that first thing and say: This guy created everything? How?"

"He's just that powerful. He'd make that princess of yours look like a bacterial organism up against an entire galaxy." Sunset tilted her head, "Where is he?"

"To be honest kid, I've no fuckin' clue. Nobody does. It's a hard pill to swallow, but there just isn't enough evidence or even indication to know whether or not he exists."

"Oh, well, how did he come to be? Why do people believe in him?" Noah waved her off as they reached a red light, "Okay, that's a whole damn thing that I don't feel like getting into so..."

"Okay, well, what's a galaxy?" Noah snickered, "Good God, you four-legged-fucks are laughably behind in technology." Sunset playfully punched him in his shoulder, "Oh shut up! We don't need technology as much as you do because we have magic! Something you humans could never dream of!"

"Oh, so your magic has allowed you to reach the moon?" Sunset smirked, "Kinda."
"So your magic has also allowed you to put rovers on Mars? Take detailed photos of our solar system and beyond? Make odd-looking objects of metal fuckin' fly? Yeah, I didn't think so."

"Okay Noah... whatever makes you happy."

"We've arrived at your destination. Please, get the fuck out." Sunset crossed her arms, "Is there ever a time when you aren't gonna be a total jerk? I mean, if you don't want this friendship to go on-"

"Oh relax kid. It just shows how much I care. It's not meant to be interpreted as a rude thing to say. I don't know, that's just what my friends and I do."

Sunset shrugged and exited his car, "If you say so. But let me remind you of the normal way to say goodbye. Have a good night, I enjoyed the time we spent together today."

Noah felt an unfamiliar sensation arise and warm his face. "Oh... uh, yeah. Me too. Jesus fuck, why is it so damn hot in this car?" Sunset giggled, "Yeah, maybe you shouldn't turn the heat up all the way when there isn't even any snow on the ground."

"Right, I'll make sure to keep that in mind kid. Now, before you go..." Noah trailed off as he reached underneath his seat. Sunset felt her heart race a little, No way, she thought. No way he got me a gift...

Noah extracted a moderately lengthy rectangular box that was wrapped in red and yellow wrapping paper comparable to Sunset's hair. He handed the present to Sunset and smiled, "Merry Christmas dipshit... I-I mean kid."

"I... you... you got me a gift?" Noah shrugged, "What? It's Christmas. Or as your people called it: Hearth’s Warming. Whatever the fuck that is." Sunset stuttered, "I-I... it was just a few months ago when I b-burned your bookbag. Y-You've forgiven me completely like tha-"

"Sunset, open the fuckin' gift. I'm tired and I need to make sure McFly didn't learn how to use the doggy door. Yes, I got you a goddamn gift because I appreciate all you've done, how great a friend you are, and other shit. Now open the fuckin' box"

"Oh... yeah, that sounds like something you'd say I guess. I-I mean, it was just kinda unexpected." Noah leaned towards her, "Yeah, well I'm not the type of nigga to be expected, now am I?" Sunset nodded.

She opened the box in slight excitement and curiosity. She let the wrapping paper fall to the sidewalk despite the fact that she knew she'd have to pick it up later.

She had torn off nearly all of the wrapping paper before she found a simple cardboard box with a detachable lid. "Uh-"

"I know, I know. But by the time I realized I could've just put a ribbon on it, I had already picked you up." Sunset shrugged, "Makes sense."

She removed the top of the lid gently in wonderment and froze when the top was removed entirely.

Inside was a midnight black bomber jacket with vertical pure-orange stripes along its sleeves. Underneath was a light sky-blue dress and a golden trim. Along with the jacket and such were airforce-blue tights and black high-heel boots with orange arrows pointing upwards upon its shaft. The perfect outfit for another adventure.

"So uh... you like it? I know you like wearing that leather jacket, but there's nothing wrong with changing it up every now and then. But obviously, it had to be something I knew, or at least think, you'd like. No way in hell would you jump for joy over a fuckin' green tanktop."

"Noah, I..." Sunset stared at the outfit. It was gorgeous, not the type of thing Rarity would buy, but the type that Rarity would rightfully respect. It wasn't something Sunset expected from him in all honesty. She expected to receive something that he'd want. Like a gun or a video game.

Sunset placed the gift down on the sidewalk, approached the driver's door on the opposite side of the car, yanked it open, and drew Noah into a snug embrace.

"Thank you, Noah. I'd been wanting that outfit for months! But the boots, they top it off so well!" Noah casually wrapped his own arms around hers, taken aback. "Well, it is Christmas, and I just thought you'd like it. Guess I was more right than I thought."

Sunset pulled back, "You were, I-I mean, how'd you even know I wanted this? There's no way you just guessed." Noah shrugged, "Well, I may have looked at your phone a month ago..."

Sunset froze.

"I looked at your browser and then at your notes. I found that you wanted this outfit for a while, but could never get around to it. I just thought, 'Well, I bet Sunset'll like it if I buy this for her.' The boots, personally, I just came around to and thought they looked stunning... okay, fuck it, I thought they looked a little hot."

Sunset sighed of relief. It seemed he didn't see what else she had on her phone. "Oh, well, that explains a lot. But please, don't go on my phone without permission next time."

"Relax negro, I only did it for Christmas specifically. Now, I'm gonna head home so I can get some sleep." Sunset frowned, "You're not gonna come in and see me try it on?"

”Kid, it's twelve in the morning. You can just send me pictures if you want to, but I'm not coming in." Sunset held her right shoulder, "Yeah, I guess that makes sense."

"Alright," Noah began as he closed the door, "I'll see you tomorrow when we all have that dumbass Christmas party. 'Till then, I've got a dumbass dog to check on."

"Bye, see you tomorrow then," Sunset replied, and Noah waved her goodbye before driving off. Sunset stood in the street, smiled, and watched as his Audi grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

...

"Wait, what does shawty mean?"

Noah had driven across town to reach Sunset and the arcade, so he was quite the distance away from his house. Throughout the drive, Noah couldn't stop thinking about what he and Sunset did.

He was happy, and by the looks on her face, he could tell she was even happier than he was, not that his happiness mattered when next to her. But on the other hand, Noah still felt something.

He couldn't put it into words, but he had this feeling in his chest that he just couldn't help. Like a hole that was blown into him that hadn't been filled in. It had to do with one thing he didn't like remembering though. It had to do with the building.

Of course it was the building, what else would it be? Not a day went by when he didn't think about that building. The day he lost everything.

Sure, he gave the Sirens what they deserved and ended them. Sure, he's been giving Adagio and Aria a hell of a time in his dreams every three days, but he just didn't feel complete because she was still out there.

Sonata Dusk, the siren that got away.

Adagio had already told him that she hadn't left Canterlot, but the fact that she was right under his nose made him furious on multiple occasions.

She could, quite literally, be anywhere, and Noah wouldn't be able to do anything. She could be living right outside his house. She could be living outside the school. She could even be that hooded figure leaning on the traffic light to his right...

"Speak of the devil."

Noah turned to his right in thought and found Sonata leaning on the stoplight with a phone in her hand and a hood over her head. Noah's eyes turned bloodshot as he stared her down. Finally, he had found her. Unfortunately, so did she... kinda.

Sonata looked up from the phone and froze like a suicidal deer in headlights. She stared at him, he stared back. Her eyes begged for mercy, his begged for blood.

As quick as she could, Sonata made a mad dash while she could, but she knew she wouldn't get away that easy. Noah put the car back in drive and stomped on the gas pedal, all he could see was red as his blood boiled.

Noah pulled up beside her, she was pretty fast for something so human-like. "Get back here you dick!" Sonata cried in response, "Leave me alone!"

"How many children do you think have cried that at the top of their lungs you cyan sadistic thudfuck!? How many families do you think you've ruined?! Including mine!"

Sonata continued down the sidewalk, terrified of the boom in Noah's voice. She needed to find somewhere to find, and fast.

She veered her head left and right for somewhere to hide while Noah reached into his compartment for something. She knew it was something life-threatening, and her heart was already beating faster than
a cheetah in the middle of Times Square.

Sonata cried in relief when she found an alleyway that would be too small for Noah's car. And with her speed, he couldn't catch her even if he tried.

Sonata swerved to the right like a subway train and didn't stop to look behind for a moment. She gradually slowed down and caught her breath as she proceeded, until she was met with a solid brick wall.

Sonata's heart pounded against her newly healed chest as she lost her sanity within seconds. Sure, she was fast, but an outsider with a carbine rifle and a pure fire in his eyes that had her up against twenty feet of pure solidified red clay?

Of all the places Sonata wanted to be today, this wasn't even on the list.

She watched in fear as Noah's car pulled up and blocked her only escape. He opened the passenger door and exited through it, his father's gift in his right.

He shut the door behind him and began towards her. She flinched as she heard the gun's magazine release drop a half-empty clip. It's simple metal sounding like the crash of boulders.

Sonata trembled, He's going to kill me! He's going to slaughter me like he did onstage back then! I-I don't know what to do! I-I can't leave! There's no way... out?

Sonata felt an uncontrollable sensation of hope overwhelm her as she found an alleyway door to one of Canterlot's abandoned skyscrapers. She could lose him in there without a doubt. Or even better, make him regret ever messing with her sisters.

"Sonata, whatever the fuck your middle name is, Dusk. You might've found a way to escape me annihilating you, but I'm not letting you get away a second time. I'm gonna tear you apart."

Noah looked up from loading his father's gift to see a door close to the abandoned building. She made a break for it! Goddamn blue blurry bastard!

Noah pulled the slide back, let go, and rushed into the building. He was having such a good day, and her getting away would ruin it to the point where he wouldn't be able to sleep.

He scanned the first floor to find a simple office building interior. The amount of places Sonata could hide was more than overwhelming. Noah pulled the collar of his hoodie forward and revealed his necklace.

"I know you're in here, damn it. If you think I'm leaving this place without checking every nook and cranny, you'll be gravely fuckin' mistaken!"

Noah took the black pendant in his hand and crushed it just enough for it to split in two. The magic flew out of the pendant and surged through his very veins similar to the Battle of the Bands, returning him to the form he held.

Hiding underneath a table in a cubicle, Sonata silently freaked as she felt the miraculous magic course through the very floor.

Noah spread his arms out as if he was pushing two walls coming to a close and approached the middle of the room. He addressed her, "I'll give you one last chance. Come out of your dumbass hiding spot, and I'll let you die with your dignity."

Noah cocked his head to the right, nothing. He cocked it to the left, not a peep. "Fine, have it your way." With winds as powerful as a nuclear detonation, Noah forced everything in the room against the walls.

Luckily for Sonata, the winds only pushed everything around her. Unfortunately, that left her out in the open. "Found you."

Sonata bolted for the stairwell and Noah forced his left hand towards her, unfortunately, Noah didn't have that kind of magic. He cursed under his breath, "Of fuckin' course," and took off behind her.

Such a powerful being didn't belong in a building like that, so Noah pursued her on foot. They reached the second floor and flung everything she could find to slow the abandoned element down.

She grabbed a nearby chair and flung it back as quickly as she could, but Noah simply dodged the chair and continued. She gripped the top of a cubicle and forced it down, blocking his path, but Noah simply rammed right through it.

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

Sonata burst through the roof doors and collapsed in exhaustion. She stared back at the doors as they remained open and listened... nothing. She lost him.

Sonata carefully stood up whilst holding her abdomen as stomach cramps went wild inside her. She staggered over to the edge of the roof and got a bird's eye view of the city.

Canterlot wasn't teeming with life at night similarly to a bustling metropolis such as Manehatten, or whatever they called this variant, but it sure was beautiful seeing all of the lights.

Sonata let go of her abdomen and leaned on the roof's railing. How did I get here? She thought back to when she was born in Equestria. To how she thought everything was all a game, a joke.

She cursed herself for not seeing sooner, for not realizing that everything has a consequence to it that would eventually catch up. Hers just happened to be a little black boy. A little black boy that had a building dropped on his friends and family. Albeit, she's the one who dropped it.

Maybe if she'd seen what she was doing was wrong, she could've done something. But it was too late for that. Kiloyears late.

She thought about her sisters. She wondered where they were now and if the so-called Siren Hell truly existed.

She questioned if she was doomed from the beginning with the way her life played out. All the manipulating and the murders, was it all truly worth it?

The only thing the amulets did was give her and her sisters immortality, but that was because she was told that normal life was horrid and that they were lucky. But after blending in for so long, was it really as bad as she was told it was?

They had good food, kind and healthy people, joyous civilizations, good food, it was perfect. What was the horrid part? Was there even a horrid part? Sure, some people in the world were evil, but not everything's perfect.

She even liked blending in with them. She made relationships with all kinds of people, some even romantic. But they all ended without her, whether it was in a matter of days, or decades.

Sure, being a Siren was fun, but she was mostly in it to be with her sisters. Adagio was a grand leader and made her feel welcome and cherished. Same for Aria. Sure they argued, but when it came down to it, that only meant they loved each other incredibly. And now, they're gone. Both of them, reduced to dust.

Sonata fell to her knees and ran her hands through her hair as tears welled up in her eyes. "My whole life has been one huge fuc-”

*CRASH*

Sonata was cut off by the rumbling and eventual smash of the floor behind her as Noah rose far above her, the fire returning. "There you are. I thought I lost you."

"W-Wait, just let me speak-" Noah reached the ground and stomped, "Do you want me to stab you with an electric guitar too?! Shut the fuck up! Okay?! Nothing you say matters to me!”

Sonata covered her eyes and cowered like a four-year-old petrified for her life. This only made Noah angrier. "Look at me. Look me in the fuckin' eyes," Sonata didn't respond.

"Hey! You fuck! Look me in the eyes!" When Sonata continued to cower, Noah seemingly teleported in front of her and lifted her by her shirt. "Please..."

"Shut it you fuckin’ filthy shit! You can't even find the words to call for help. So you know what?" Noah approached the roof railing and held Sonata over it. She freaked.

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" Noah pulled his gun out from his back pocket and held her at gunpoint. He spoke through his teeth, "Cry for help." Sonata mumbled in fear, "Help." Noah scoffed, "Pathetic, I said cry for help."

"Help..."

"Like you mean it!"

"Help!"

"From your diaphragm, Help!"

"HELP!!"

"Shu-sh... now we listen..."

Noah leaned an ear towards the horizon while Sonata couldn't even comprehend her situation. He whispered, "Nothing. Nobody is coming to save a monster."

Noah lifted Sonata over the railing and threw her to the ground. She folded like a beach chair and formed a tiny crater. She coughed, "Why... why are you doing this? Why can't you just leave me alone!?"

"Because..." Noah teared up, but his anger only grew. "My family... my brothers, my sisters, they were taken from me! By a snake! In the garden!"

Noah took a staggering step forward until his distress raised to counter the flame of his anger. He fell to his knees. Two tears of pain befell his cheeks as he dropped his father's gift.

"I thought God had a plan for all of us... but I was wrong... I was blind... but now I see. He has a plan for all of us individually. And this plan, right here until the day I die, is mine."

Noah picked up his handgun and held it horizontally. He examined it and gazed at his reflection. His flaming transformation staring back as one droplet of his tears fell upon it. He lowered his voice and continued.

"Look at me. I'm broken, to hell with it nigga, I've been fuckin' shattered. Fractured to hell, for eternity. I like a girl, yet I still feel like choking the life out of her for what she's done. But that doesn't even pale in comparison to what you've done."

"You've taken everything from me, and yet, somehow I'm the bad guy. I yell and I lose it at people. I've robbed stores, run from cops, I even killed someone."

"My life has been shit ever since you dropped that building. Yet, here we are, on a skyscraper, and I've got you and your dumbass sisters in the palms of my hand."

"But somehow... I don't feel satisfied. When you took everything from me, a void was made in my heart. My stupid blackass heart. The only thing that can fill that void is love, but I don't know who can fill it, and I doubt Sunset will even bat an eye."

"So how have I managed with that void? Fury. I have been so, mother-fuckin', angry. I have this urge. This urge to burn down every monstrosity on this planet, to see them all suffer, but in reality, that all comes down to you. I want to see you suffer... so that's exactly what's going to happen."

Noah dabbed his tears, clicked the safety, and stood up. "I won't kill you Sonata. Your life will be consumed by absolute loss... Then, and only then, will you understand what you have done to me. What you have done to the world. You will suffer with me. You will suffer with the world, and you will suffer for your sisters."

"Speaking of them..." Noah took a deep breath, "You took my family from me, so I took yours. I will break them. Mend them like clay. And despite the animosity and hatred in my heart for them, I'll make sure they reach the gates of Heaven instead of the gates of Hell. They will learn true pain. They will learn remorse. But most importantly, they'll be forgiven."

Noah holstered his gift and walked over to the roof's railing. "Without your magic, you'll simply be human. You will endure the lives of us for the rest of your pitiful life. Whether or not you try to make it a good one is up to you. I don't want to see your face in this city ever again, so leave, and never return."

"Be grateful I'm letting you walk away without killing you. But the feeling that you could've prevented all of this will be your undoing. Destroying your stupidass from the inside-out. And we both already know you don't have the balls to kill yourself."

Sonata whimpered, "I... I..." Noah rose and hovered over the edge of the building, he paused as he came to level with the height of the railing. "Besides, what occurs in the dark will always be brought to the light."

Noah left Sonata's sight as he returned to his car. Sonata laid there in her crater. She'd been spared. After everything she'd done, she'd been spared.

Only... she didn't feel like she was. She felt like Noah was playing at some mind game... and it was working.

Noah yanked open the door to his car, entered, and laid back against the seat. He took his pendant and forced the pieces back together, his magic coursing out his veins in seconds.

He let go of the pendant and drew his handgun from his back pocket. He stared at it, not at his chrome reflection, but the muzzle. Another tear found its way down his cheek as he slowly rose the gun to his head.

The last time he thought about his family he destroyed his hand and was compelled by himself to lay down and die. But a certain Sunset Shimmer put a stop to that for the sake of the world, and himself.

But now, nothing was holding him back. The Sirens were demolished and defeated, and Sunset was nowhere to be seen. She wouldn't miss him. She spent years going back and forth with him. His friends were his friends, they'd get over it easily. And the Rainbooms weren't even up for consideration.

He sighed, "Fuck... fuck my life." Noah slowly squeezed the trigger, and within seconds, he-.

*RING RING RING*

Noah froze, barely a centimeter away from a fifty caliber bullet piercing his brain. He turned to his phone ringing on the passenger seat. Someone was attempting to face-time him from the resonance of the ringtone.

He looked at the gun in his hand and set it down on top of the dashboard. Hesitant, he picked up his phone and read the caller ID.

It was Sunset.

Noah wiped the tears from his cheeks and eyes and punched himself three times in the chest. Get it, together you, shit-head. Noah slid the touchscreen right and was met with Sunset thinking hard and concerned as her phone rested on her lap.

"Kid, what's good?" Sunset jumped and lost her train of thought. She looked down at her phone to find Noah, confused. "Oh, you picked up. I know you said pictures and all, but... w-wait, are you crying?"

"N-No! I'm me! I'm a big deal! Big deals don't cry! Who the hell said I was crying?!" Sunset frowned, "Noah, your eyes are red. And I know sad when I see it. I'm Equestrian after all."

"Look, I'm fine, just... how does the outfit look? A-And why'd you take so long to call? Hm nigga?" Sunset giggled, "I had to wash it before I put it on of course, and then I had to dry it. But wow, it even feels incredible!"

Sunset set the camera up against her school computer in her living room and stood back. "Look at it! I love the feel, it's like a weird combination of a leather jacket and a normal jacket. The only thing I kinda see wrong is that these sleeves are just a bit long so I rolled them up. Not like the whole thing, just the cuffs. You like it?"

"Sunset, you look goddamn' ravishing. I love it." Sunset blushed. "Hey, uh, give me a little twirl?" Sunset did as instructed and did a long twirl, showing Noah the whole outfit. Which he enjoyed more than he should've.

Sunset bent down and met with Noah's eyes, "Now, tell me why you were crying." Noah rolled his eyes and ignited the car's engine. "Goodnight Sunset." He tapped the hang-up button and tossed his phone onto the passenger seat.

He put the car in drive and made a U-Turn, back on track for his house. As Noah pulled up to a stoplight, he received a text notification from his phone. With the light just turning red, Noah lifted his phone and read:

Sunset AKA Kid: I'm sorry if that was a touchy subject.

Sunset AKA Kid: I was just worried. Have a Goodnight.

Sunset AKA Kid: I love you.

Noah felt his heart stop. He stared at the last text intensely. 'I, love, you.' Noah knew she didn't mean it like that, but he hadn't seen or even heard those words in so long.

He felt that stupid sensation return to his cheeks with a passion. Not only had he not heard it in so long, but from her? Noah was left speechless.

He peeked at the stoplight to see it still was red. Seeing he was good to go, he opened the keypad and replied, a genuine smile finding itself upon his face:

Sunset AKA Kid: I'm sorry if that was a touchy subject.

Sunset AKA Kid: I was just worried. Have a Goodnight.

Sunset AKA Kid: I love you.

Noah The Last OG: I love you too.

(Please leave a comment. I enjoy reading what you have to say.)